by Jane Jamison
“How?”
She’d gotten skittish, but he didn’t blame her. “Like Owen said. Let us show you.” He stretched out his hand, then arched his eyebrow the same way she’d done. “Hop on my horse and we’ll take you to a real nice place.”
Her big eyes darted from him to the horses. “Can’t we walk? Or drive?”
“Why would we do that when we can ride? Besides, it’s not that far.” He had a suspicion of what was bothering her, but figured it’d be best if she just said it.
She twisted her mouth and bit down on the corner of it. “Because…I’ve never ridden a horse before.”
“Are you serious? Never? How can you live in Texas and not have ridden a horse?”
He backhanded Owen in the chest. “Not everyone lives in the country, bro.” He’d kept his arm up. Crooking a finger at her, he tried again. “Come on, baby. You know you want to.”
He’d never seen her so nervous. Not even the night she’d gone on stage.
“Okay. But I’m riding with you. Not alone. Right?”
“Any way you want to do it.” He took her hand, then with Owen stretching the barbed wire apart for her, he helped her to the pasture side. She jumped when his horse snorted, letting out a squeal that had his horse’s ears falling back and his hooves dancing.
“Easy, Jewel. Horses don’t like high-pitched noises.” King pawed at the ground, dipping his head up and down, and snorting his displeasure.
“I’m not getting near him.”
“If you calm down, he’ll calm down.”
“I don’t think so. Maybe we should forget about this.”
“Baby, you’ve got to learn to trust me. When I say something, you can take it to the bank.”
Her nostrils were flared, reminding him of King’s, but he wasn’t about to tell her. Instead, he stretched out his hand again.
She took it and let him tug her to left side of the large animal. “Okay. This is me trusting you.”
“And you’re doing great. Just place your shoe in the stirrup. Good. Now hold on to the saddle horn and hop on up.”
She hesitated enough to make him think she wasn’t going to do it, then let out a low curse word and pushed off the ground. His hand cupped her pantiless bottom for one delightful moment and then she was on top of the horse.
“Oh, my God. Get up here.”
“Don’t worry. I’m right behind you.” Careful not to yank on the saddle too hard and frighten her more, he swung up and landed on King’s rump, then scooted forward as much as the back of the saddle would allow.
“Wow. We’re really packed in here.”
“But it’s not bad, is it?”
“No. I guess not. As long as he doesn’t buck me off.”
“He won’t. Besides, if anyone falls off, it’ll be me first.” He brushed the hair away from her neck and felt her tense. But it wasn’t from fear. He chuckled. “You’re going to love this.”
“If you say so.”
“I say so.” Damn, but she smelled good. Sweet and sexy all at the same time. “What other kinds of firsts haven’t you done yet?”
“Not too many.”
“How about skinny-dipping?” Why not make good use of the unusual October weather? “It’s hot enough to take a swim.”
“I did it once in a neighbor’s swimming pool, but not in a pond.”
“Lucky neighbor. Did someone take pictures?”
This time, she really did tense up. “Hey, take it easy. I promise you. You’re not going to fall off.”
He wrapped his arms around her, but didn’t take the reins when she tried to give them to her. “No, baby, you’re in the driver’s seat.” He put his hands on top of hers. “I’ll help, but you’re going to be the one telling King where to go.”
“King?”
Owen swung onto his horse, Riptide. “Figures, doesn’t it, that Ryce would name his horse King?”
Ryce didn’t care how many jabs Owen taunted him with. As long as he was the one snuggled next to Jewel, his brother could say whatever the hell he wanted. He gave Owen a grin, then placed his cowboy hat on Jewel’s head. “A real cowgirl needs a hat.” He nuzzled against the curve of her neck.
She relaxed, leaning her body back against his. Pulling the hat lower, she took a deep breath. “Okay, now what?”
“Now you give him a little nudge with your heels and make a clucking sound to tell him to go. Owen will lead the way to the pond and King will follow. You don’t have to do much else except enjoy the ride.” He pushed his arms against the side boob peeking out from under the halter. “I know I will.”
“If you say so.”
“I say so.” He risked repeating what he’d said earlier, but it was imperative that she learn the lesson. “You know you can trust me. Don’t you, baby?”
One look from her told him she did, but only to a certain extent. Why was she holding out? Had she found out about them checking her phone? He doubted it. If she had, she’d have been all over them and not in the way he wanted.
Owen whirled Riptide around and trotted him toward the grove of trees giving shade to the small pond. Her bottom rocked with the motion of the horse and rubbed against the front of his jeans. If he didn’t distract himself, he’d fuck her right on top of the horse.
“Hey, baby, you’re not watching Owen’s ass, are you?”
“What?”
“I figured I’d better check. At least to make sure you know which ass is his and which is the horse’s.”
She laughed, but cut it short when Owen twisted around and frowned at them.
“You two okay?”
“Just dandy, big brother.”
Jewel eased into the saddle better. Placing his hands on her hips, he couldn’t help but think about how good it’d be to take her from behind.
“…always had such a friendly relationship?”
He jerked himself away from his sinful thoughts. “Sorry. What?”
She craned her neck around and studied him. “I asked you if you and Owen have always been friends as well as brothers.”
“Oh. Yeah, sure. At least, most of the time. Believe it or not, he was a lot more fun when he was younger. But once we left home, he kind of turned into an old fart. You know. Worrying about this and worrying about that.”
“Maybe he was just trying to keep you safe.”
“I’m sure that was part of it.” Why had their conversation taken such a serious turn? “I was kind of a handful after we graduated high school and hit the road.”
“I’ll bet. Like what kind of things did you do?”
“Not really anything too bad. Once I stole some beer off the back of a delivery truck. The driver caught me and called the police.”
“Oh, no. Did you go to jail?”
“Naw. Owen came down to the station and had a long talk with the captain. I didn’t think it’d do any good. I mean, hell, I used some of my best jokes on them and not one of them cracked a smile. But then Owen marches in, talks privately with the captain, and the next thing I know I’m in the truck and headed home.”
“How? What’d Owen do?”
“You know what? To this day, he’s never said. But I didn’t go to jail or show up in court. In fact, we ended up sharing the beer I’d stolen.” He watched Owen sitting tall in the saddle and realized just how much he owed his brother. “Hell, I’d probably have ended up in jail or lying in a ditch somewhere by now if it weren’t for him. Don’t go telling him, but he’s one hell of a good man and my best friend.”
She sighed and leaned her back against his chest. “I hope my sister and I can have a similar relationship. Right now, I feel more like her mother than her sister.”
“Where’s your sister now?”
“She’s at home.”
Again, she stiffened. “Why didn’t she come with you?”
Could a man smell when someone was holding back? If it was possible, he was sure he was getting a whiff of it.
“She has school.” She shook her head.
“Don’t pay me any mind. I’m just feeling sorry for myself. It’s tough having to worry about her.”
“I guess that’s how it is for the older sibling. All the responsibility and worry, and only a little of the fun. But it’ll get better. We younger kids appreciate everything even if we never get around to saying so.”
The ride was far too short as far as Ryce was concerned, but it accomplished the goal of getting her used to sitting on a horse as well as reminding him how much he loved his brother.
“You’re doing great.” He nibbled on the soft flesh at the nape of her neck and felt her tremble. Hopefully, her reaction was more from his teeth than from her lack of clothing.
“Am I? You’re not making it any easier.”
“Do you want me to stop?”
“No.”
“No what?”
She craned her head around. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Sure you do. It’s the same as at the club. We’re your Doms, which means you call us sir or master.”
“Like I said before—”
“No, Jewel, I know what you said, but you’re not listening. You are our submissive. You only need to accept it so we can move on. Just let it be and we’ll show you more pleasure than you’ve ever known.”
He turned loose of one of the reins and slid his hand under her skirt to find her mons pressed against the saddle. “How does it feel rubbing your pussy against the leather?”
He sensed she wanted to lie, to say it didn’t feel good, but she didn’t. “It feels good. But not as good as you felt.”
That was a better answer than he’d expected. As their submissive, she needed to learn to call him sir, but right now he didn’t want to do anything to divert her attention from his hand. His finger explored the soft area between her folds, taking it just so far, but not far enough. “So you liked that, huh?”
“Yes.”
The pinch he gave her made her jerk in the saddle, unnerving King and making him sidestep. “Easy. You don’t want to startle your horse too much. But it’s yes, sir.”
She squirmed, and he could almost see the wetness she’d leave on the leather. “Yes, sir.”
“That’s better. We’ll take it easy while teaching you, but at some point, you’re going to get a punishment if you don’t start saying and doing as you’re told. Do you understand?”
“What kind of punishment? Sir.”
She was already starting to obey him. Little by little, she’d come along. “Could be a spanking. Would you like that? Would you like feeling my hand on your ass? Or maybe a belt or a whip?”
“Will it hurt, sir?”
“It can. It depends. We have to teach you a lesson, but we don’t want it to hurt. Unless you want it to. It’ll take some time, but we’ll learn what to expect and how much you can handle.”
“I’m not sure I understand, sir.”
Yet another sir. She was definitely coming along. He wondered if she even realized it. “You will. Just listen and do as we say.”
She nodded this time, whether without thinking or because she didn’t want to add the sir again. It wouldn’t matter in the long run.
He was pleased when she let out a complaining moan once they’d reached the pond.
“That was fun.”
“See? I told you you’d like it.”
He caught Owen’s eye and sent him a silent message. She’s starting to learn.
Owen gave him another warning glare, telling him he was pushing it. He grinned, then dismounted and held out his hand to help her down.
“Just put your foot back in the stirrup, hang onto the saddle horn, and swing your leg over. It’s the reverse of how you got on. I won’t let you fall. Yeah, that’s it.”
The sight of her ass coming so close to his face as she dismounted had his cock pushing hard against his zipper. If Owen hadn’t fucked it up before, he’d have already had his dick deep inside her.
As it was, Owen interrupted yet again, edging him out of the way to take her hand. “Grab the blanket in your pack, man. Along with anything else that might be useful.” He wrapped his arm around Jewel and held a water bottle in the other. “Spread it down by the pond.”
Owen’s command grated on his nerves, but he bit back a retort. He’d give him hell later, but for right now, getting Jewel settled and under their control was more important. “Sure thing, sir.”
Jewel caught the not-so-playful jab, but didn’t say anything. “So? Are we going to stand around here chatting, or are you going to show me the pond?”
“You bet, darlin’.” Owen turned her around and kept her close as he led her down the rocky path to the edge of the water.
Sometimes having a brother wasn’t so great. As much as they’d talked about sharing Jewel, Ryce could see how having Owen in the mix could cause problems. Then again, he enjoyed watching his brother pleasure a woman, either with a paddle or with his cock. Determined not to let Owen edge him out, he dug into the pack, found the blanket along with a couple of hog ties and even a short rope that might come in handy.
Chapter Six
Jewel tried to hide her excitement, but it wasn’t easy. She’d had enough of dreaming about having Owen and Ryce. Now she was going to make her dreams come true. But could she handle being their submissive? Was she sure she wanted to?
Yet good or bad, it could only be for a little while. For now, she’d forget the future and live in the present.
“Stand right here.”
Owen brought her onto the faded plaid blanket. Yet when she started to sit down, he stopped her.
“Not yet, darlin’. We need to do some serious talking first.”
Why couldn’t she sit for that? Yet questioning him didn’t feel right, so she merely nodded.
“We’ve talked about you being our submissive before, but we haven’t said a lot. At least, not enough.”
“I understand what it means to be a submissive from watching at the club. But I’m not sure I can do what you’re asking of me.” She didn’t add the sir. Not again. Not until she really knew what she was getting herself into.
“Just watching can’t explain it. Sexual play is just the physical side. We’ll explain the other as best we can.”
“All you have to do is let it sink in.” Ryce came to stand at her other side, sandwiching her between them. “I’m betting that if you do, you’ll get a gut reaction and you’ll know it’s right for you. That you’re right for us.”
“I’ll try.”
“We can’t ask for anything more.” Owen slid his palm along her arm.
Funny how his touch could calm and excite her at the same time. And Ryce’s touch gave her the same dual feeling.
“I know some people see a sub as someone who’s weak willed. A woman who can’t stand on her own two feet and has to have a man, or men, tell her what to do. But they’re wrong. As our submissive, you’d be more than a strong woman and never anyone less than special. As our submissive, you’d hold the real power, the real control because you’d become our one and only. The woman we’ll cherish in our hearts for the rest of our lives. You’d allow us to command you because it not only gives us pleasure, but it gives you pleasure, too. I’m talking about both physical and emotional pleasure. Aw, shit. I’m not saying this like I wanted. Am I making any kind of sense?”
He was right. Before coming to the club, she’d thought women who wanted to be dominated were throwbacks to a bygone era when men controlled, hell, even owned their girlfriends and wives. But the way Owen explained it sounded wonderful. Like she would benefit from the relationship as much as they would. She could give in and yet still remain in control. She could enjoy all the sexual things she’d always wanted to explore while giving the men she cared for their own kind of fulfillment. To her, he’d given her the best definition of love she’d ever heard.
But this thing between them, whatever it was called, wasn’t love, was it? Being a submissive didn’t mean that they loved her. Not all Doms and subs loved ea
ch other in the romantic kind of way. Paul and Destin Casing had a loving, committed relationship with their submissive, Georgia Fox. And Carly Rivers had the same caring bond with Hank Irons and Ron Callows. But that didn’t mean Ryce and Owen wanted the same thing. She yearned to know, but was too afraid to ask. It was just too soon.
Just take today. Tomorrow will have to wait.
Ryce took her hand. “We don’t know if you’re a natural sub or not. Frankly, I don’t think it matters. I remember the first day you worked at the club and how big your eyes were as you took it all in. But then, with each time you worked, I saw you change. Your fear, your shock changed into a yearning I could see written on your face. That’s what we were waiting for. Your yearning meant you were ready to learn.”
“But I’ve only worked there for a couple of weeks.”
Ryce grinned. “Yeah, we know. We’ve waited a hell of a long time.”
She loved his sense of humor. And Owen’s quieter nature complimented his brother’s more outgoing one.
Owen took her other hand. The simplicity of holding hands was at once comforting and erotic. She couldn’t help but glance down to see if they were as turned on as she was. They were.
“You’ve already taken the first step toward becoming our sub. That night on the stage? That was your first step. Sure, it didn’t end like we wanted, but it was a first step. And today is your next.”
Ryce slipped behind her, then lifted her skirt, and gripped both cheeks. “See what I mean? You didn’t even flinch.”
“You make it sound like I’m a horse you’re training.”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but that’s a good way of putting it.”
A flash of embarrassed heat ripped into her, but when she tried to pull away, Ryce snagged hold of her skirt and brought her ass against his bulging crotch. She drew in a breath as desire rode her.
“No, darlin’. Stay where you are. We’ve only started.”
Owen’s intense stare tore into her, daring her to complain, daring her to try and get away. Again, her emotions warred inside her. She needed to put distance between them, and yet, not having them touch her was the last thing she wanted.
